Flood-gate for fences



S. D. HOPKINS.

Flood Fence. Q Patented Nov. 20', 1849.

N PETERS. Prwwmho n omran smarts PATENT orrioa.

S. D. HOPKINS, OF BROOKSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

FLOOD-GATE FOR FENCES.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, S. D. HOPKINS, of Brooksville, in the county of Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Self-forking Flood-Gate, designed for a sure and permanent obstruction to the passage of all kinds of stock from one field to another by way of a branch or creek and to prevent the washing away of fencing from low and valuable lands; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of the inclined flood gate, Fig. 2 of the perpendicular fioodgade, Fig. 3 an end view of the framework inside of the inclined posts 12 inches square, with a groove cut.- on the inside of each, 2 inches deep3 inches wide. These posts and their braces (B) lapped and pinned to mudsills (C) which are lapped and pinned on cross mudsills (D). The posts are confined at the top by a cross beam (E). Through the ends and whole length of the barrel (F) .there passesa shaft of wood 2 inches square, an iron gudgeon inch thick is driven into each end of the shaft, which go into holes of the same size, made in.the barrel supporters (a) at the point indicated by The paling (i) is nailed to cross rails mortised into the end pieces of the frame work as indicated by (0) in Fig. 3. To the center of the frame work a rope or chain (G) is fastened, passing through the beam (E) over a pulley (H) and to the end a weight (I) is fastened.

In Fig. 3 (K) represents the sliders which 6,892, dated November 20, 1849.

work in the grooves of the posts, and are made to work without friction by means of rollers (d) two of which, in each slider, are made to work freely against either side of the grooves in the posts, and two against the bottom of the groove so as to prevent the sliders from touching any where in the groove. These sliders are kept to their places in the grooves by cross rails mortised into them-as indicated by (e). The end pieces (L) of the frame work are mortised into the slider at the lower end, and supported at the top by a brace In Fig. 3, (N) represents the end of the barrel.

The above described fioodgate is placed in a branch or creek, where a fence is intended to cross, the mudsills buried in the ground at the bottom of the creek. The whole of the frame work, to which the barrel is attached, is put in motion by the rising and falling of the stream. Trees, with projecting roots and limbs, together with all drifting matter, pass through without obstruction or injury to the works, the barrel always remaining and revolving on top of the water.

I do not claim the barrel, rollers, and pt1l-- STEVENS D. HOPKINS. Vitnesses 2 R. H. MoRsELL, L. F. NIORGAN. 

